Chap. Ill for the ReduSUon ^ N E w S p A i N. 1 1 7 
were Relations, fpoke the fame Language, and obferved 
the fame Religion, it would be convenient to put an End 
to' the long Wars that had been between them, and that 
they Ihould partake of thofe Things wherein the Mexican 
Empire abounded. And they wanted befides other Ad- 
vantages that would accrue by Peace ; and therefore in 
order to bring that to pafs it was proper they fhould facri- 
fice thofe few Chriftians, with whom their Gods were of- 
fended for many Reafons, and who would infult them in 
the fame Manner if they did not look to themfelves. 
The Prefent was received, and they faid they would con- 
fider of it. When the Embalfadors were withdrawn, their 
Propofals were debated : Xicotencatl and others fpoke 
for the Confederacy v Maxifoatzin^ defending the Spa- 
niards^ advifed them to be Friends with them, alledging 
the Fidelity and Ffonour due to Guefts. 
He extolled their Valour, alluring them of the fame 
Advantages the Mexicans propofed, and particularly in- 
Med, that the Friendlhip of the Spaniards ought not to be 
flighted, as it might contribute to enlarge the Dominions 
of their Commonwealth, which they could not expeft from 
the Mexicans^ wliofe Ambition and Perfidioufnefs was 
well known j befides, that if once the Spaniards were 
expelled, no queftion was to be made but that they would 
be greater Enemies than before, though it were only for 
having entertained them in 'Tlafcala. Xicotencatl ftill ob- 
flinately infilled, that the Spaniards were ill Men *, and 
both Sides refledting on each other, it came to fuch a 
Height, that Maxifeatzin gave Xicotencatl a Pulh from 
him, and threw liim down fome Steps, telling him he was 
a bafeMan, and a Traitor to his Country. The Mexicans 
returned home without any other Anfwer, and reported 
what had happened. Cortes being immediately informed of 
all thefe Particulars returned Thanks to Maxifeatzin^ pro- 
miiing he would endeavour to make good all he had in his 
Name promifed to the Republic. Xicotencatl^ being fatisfied 
thax. Cortes v/ould be acquainted with what had been done 
in the Council, went to him and faid, he had tried by all 
Means to acquire Honour, by oppoling him *, but that 
lince the Gods had made him invincible, he begged he 
would take him into his Favour, offering his Perfon, and 
deliring he would make Trial of him in carrying on the 
War againll Chulula and Gucmacingo^ fmee they 
had olfended him in breaking the Friendlhip and Faith 
contradled with him, going over to the Culuas, and 
killing the Spaniards that were marching through that 
Country ; befides, that to make the War on Mexico., as 
he intended, it was proper lirll to take off their Confede- 
rates, and begin with foepeaca. 
Cortes embraced him, returning Thanks for his good 
Will, and promifmg to take fuch Meafures for the Se— 
vice of the Republic, that it Ihould be revenged on all its 
Enemies. Fifty Days were now palled fince Corteses 
Arrival at Tlafcala, after his Return from Mexico, and 
Xicotencatl prelfed him daily,' faying the Men were ready 
whenfoever he Ihould think fit. Though Cortes had 
more need to have attended his Cure than to enter on frefli 
Fatigues fo foon ; yet, for fear of lofmg fo favourable an 
Opportunity, undeiAanding that the 'Tepeacans, and the 
MexicanYoccts, with them, had fecured all the Palfes that led 
to the Sea, he fent Melfengers to the Tepeacans, and to the 
other Towns, defiring them to quit the Friendlhip of the 
Mexicans, and to embrace that of the Tlafcalans, and he 
would forgive them the Injury done him by breaking their 
Faith, which they had engaged to him when he marched 
to Tlafcala. Tliey made little Account of his Ofihr, but 
refolved to adhere to the Xlexicans. Cortes fignified the 
fame to the Council Tlafcala, and they, being Enemies 
to the Tepeacans, naturally inclined to War, defirous 
to pleafe Cortes, who had gained all the prime Men, 
iiaving fent them many Prefents from Mexico, and done 
them much Honefur *, and believing that the War would 
be very advantageous to the Republic, offered to fupply 
him with fifty thoufand Soldiers. 
5. As Cortes found all things fucceeded to his Mind, and 
that it was not only juft, but necelfary to chaftife the In- 
jury done by the Tepeacans, he began to prepare for his 
March. And here he firft thought to fend the King an Ac- 
count of all that had happened •, becaufehe had not done it 
■'Vol.il N UMB. 77. 
fince he fet out from Villa Rica for Mexico ; He told his 
Majefty all his Succelfes, as alfo his Misfortune at Mexico, 
with all the Particulars relating to it ; lEewing all his- Dif- 
appointments to have been occafioned by Pamphik de 
Narvaez, who could not be brought to an Accommo- 
dation, for which Reafon he kept him Prifoner at Vera 
Cruz he likewife demanded Men and Florfes, promifed 
to fubdue that vaft Empire v/ith little Alfiftance, and 
without Expence to the Crown ^ for he offered to pay for 
the Horfes, Arms, and Ammunitpn that Ihould be fent 
to him : He defired fome Reward might be bellowed on 
Jerom de Aguilar, the Interpreter, who did extraordinary 
Service ; and prepared to fend Mendoca wnth this Account, 
and the Value of thirty thoufand Pieces of Eight in Gold : 
The Alcaldes and Regidores of Villa Rica, who were al- 
ways with Cortes, wrote at the fame time. Tepeaca being 
but eight Leagues from Tlafcala, the Inhabitants knew 
what was coming upon them, and on their Side prepared 
for War ; but we muft here mention what occafioned this 
War j viz. the Affair of the Spaniards thofe People 
deftroyed. 
The News of the great Wealth of New Spain being 
fpread throughout the Hands, feveral Spaniards tranfported 
themfelves to Vera Cruz ; where, about fifty or fixty of 
them, joining together, fet out for Mexico, by the Way 
of Tepeaca, at the Time that Cortes was retired to Tlaf- 
cala \ and all the Country having been informed that the 
War was declared againft the Spaniards at Mexico, the 
T epeacans refolved to kill them and their Captain, whofe 
Name was Corenado, which they aflually put in ExeciP 
tion j and the like was done in other Parts, concluding 
that the Spaniards, at Mexico, would be all deftroyed, 
as the Mexicans every where reported. Cortes marched 
out of Tlafcala with his Spaniards, and fix thoufand In- 
dian Archers, till fuch time as the fifty thoufand Tlafo 
calans were raifed, to be under the Command of Xicoten- 
catl, alfifted by Alonfo de Hojeda, and John Marquez, 
who fpoke the Language tolerably j he advanced three 
Leagues, and took up his Quarters at Cinpancingo, whi- 
ther fo great a Multitude reforted from the Lordlhips of 
Guaxacingo and Chulula, that it was not doubted but that 
they amounted to an hundred and fifty thoufand fighting 
Men. 
The People of Zacatapeque, and of Acazingo, having 
made it their Choice to join in this War with the Inhabit- 
ants of Tepeaca againft the Spaniards they, as lying 
neareft Tlafcala, were firft entirely deftroyed ; and then 
T epeaca was reduced to fuch Extremities, that the Inha- 
bitants fubmitted, and took an Oath to be good Subjecls 
to the King of Spain. This War happily over, Cortes 
divided the Profits between his own Forces and the 
Republic of Tlafcala, after dedudling the Fifth for the 
King. The Republic of Tlafcala was highly pleafed to 
fee Cortes ftiare the Booty fo pundlually with them, and 
befides, their City was' full of Slaves, Salt, Cotton, Fea- 
ther-works, Jewels, and other things they had Occafion 
for. The City of Tepeaca being perfedlly reduced, Ma- 
rina underftood that the Mexicans were preparing to fall 
upon the Spaniards when they leaft fufpedled it. Cortes 
feized fome that were neareft about him, who, he was 
informed, knew of it •, and, having examined into the 
Affair, puniftied them feverely. The Mexicans having 
Advice that Cortes was marched to make War on Tepe- 
aca, took care to fend Armies to feveral Parts to fecure 
their Frontiers, perfuaded their Allies to ftand by them, 
and made all pofTible Preparations, not only to defend 
themfelves, for that they looked upon as a Matter of no 
Difficulty, but to offend the Spaniarrds and like a fubtle 
People, fent the Heads of Horfes, and other things they 
had taken, to the feveral Provinces they fufpedled might 
be inclinable to forfake their Intereft, giving out that 
Cortes was dead, and encouraging the People with the 
Hopes, that having no Commander, they would eafily 
make an End of all the reft. This Notion fo far prevailed 
with the Indians, who are naturally fickle, that moft of 
them revolted, though they had fworn Obedience to the 
King of Spain and wherever any Spaniards were they 
ftaughtered them. 
When all things were fettled at Tepeaca, and in the 
FI h . neigh- 
